'Dream Alive' Begins Jan. 20

Northern Michigan University will honor the life of Martin Luther King Jr. during a “Dream Alive” celebration featuring several activities. A highlight will be the “Dream Alive” program presented by Joe Rogers, the former lieutenant governor of Colorado. It is scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the Marquette, Nicolet and Cadillac Rooms of the University Center. The public is invited to attend free of charge.

Rogers served as America ’s youngest lieutenant governor and was only the fourth African American in U.S. history to be elected as a state’s number two chief executive. Now a practicing attorney in Colorado, Rogers received the 2001 Trumpet Award from Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting System. It is one of the nation’s highest honors for African American achievement and heralds those who have made significant contributions and enhanced the quality of life for all Americans.

Rogers’ “Dream Alive” program will feature live commentary that will take audience members back in time to the renowned 1963 March On Washington where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, up to his final words, delivered in 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. Rogers has spoken at numerous colleges, corporations, churches and conventions. The director of Black Student Services at Colorado State University described his presentation as “ … uncanny, electrifying, spellbinding, awesome and touching – like King was in the room … ”

Other activities planned during the NMU celebration, all open to the public free of charge, are as follows:

Tuesday, Jan. 20: A commemorative walk will begin at 3 p.m. in the lobby of Payne and Halverson residence halls and proceed to the University Center . Immediately after the walk, at about 3:45 p.m., a commemoration ceremony and banner competition will be held in the Peter White Lounge.

Thursday, Jan. 22 : “Dream Alive – Dream Aloud” Open Mic Nite will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Michigan Room of the University Center. Participants should register by 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at Diversity Student Services in 1103 University Center .

Friday, Jan. 23 : A colloquium on “Civil Rights Laws and Affirmative Action,” with Ruth Watry (Political Science), will be held at 3 p.m. in 167 Gries Hall.

The activities are sponsored by ASNMU, Black Student Union, Diversity Student Services, the Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee, and the Gateway Academic Program. The latter is a King-Chavez-Parks initiative.

For more information, call Diversity Student Services at 227-1554.

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